Estimation of recreational values of chosen water reservoirs and littoral zone functioning

Summary.

Water reservoirs belong to necessary elements of urban landscape playing many important functions. These reservoirs are places for leisure and rest, having effect on local climate, and which is also very important, being a refuge for flora and fauna. The last reservoirs feature is very important for increasing the biodiversity in urban landscape. The aim of the study was to analyse recreational values of three water reservoirs situated in Poznań. Moreover, the studies tend to indicate the role of rush plants in stopping free migration of pollutants (i.e. biogeochemical barriers) which in consequence will influence water quality and improve the recreational values of reservoirs and human health. High recreational value was found for the Kiekrz Lake (17 points/29) and for the Strzeszyek Lake (16 points/29). Low recreational value was indicated for the Rusałka Reservoir (9 points/29), nevertheless attractive localization of this reservoirs also creates a remarkable conditions for leisure and rest. The studies concerning contamination of biotic and abiotic elements indicate that water plants, in particularly Typha angustifolia (L.) and Phragmites australis (Cav. Trin. ex Steudel) can to a large extent accumulate heavy metals. One can conclude that belt of rushes consisting of such plants can be effectively used in phytoremediation processes.